West Coast Abalone Season Reduced To Five Sessions

This year's recreational abalone fishing season in the West Coat Zone, which includes the Perth metro area, will be reduced to five one-hour Sunday sessions.

The 2010 season opens on 7 November and runs for five Sundays, until 5 December.

Recreational fishing for abalone, in the zone from Busselton Jetty to the Greenough River mouth, is only permitted between the hours of 7am and 8am on the prescribed Sundays.

Department of Fisheries Senior Management Officer Martin Holtz said the total fishing time of only five hours made it one of the world's most tightly managed recreational fisheries.

"The reduction in fishing time, by one session, is necessary to manage the recreational catch to 40 tonnes," Mr Holtz said. "In the last two years, the recreational sector has caught 48.6 tonnes and 44 tonnes (respectively) from the West Coast Zone.

"It is important each sector is managed to its allocated catch to ensure the sustainability of the fishery. The commercial sector is managed separately, to a yearly quota of 36 tonnes.

"The new arrangements will help to ensure the many thousands of fishers, who enjoy the annual opportunity to collect this seafood delicacy, can continue to do so in the future."

On each Sunday during the season, licensed recreational abalone fishers can each take a maximum of 20 Roe's legal-sized abalone, which measure 60 millimetres or larger.

Mr Holtz said this year the department would have the benefit of more mobile patrols of Fisheries and Marine Officers, to answer questions fishers may have about the abalone fishing rules and to ensure compliance in this important and unique recreational fishery.

"Significant fines apply to people in possession of undersize abalone or over the bag limit," he said. "It is also important that fishers remember they can not collect abalone for other people on the beach, nor remove abalone from the reefs if it is smaller than the legal size.

"If you want a feed of abalone you need to get a licence and get wet, but please keep safe and check the weather and swell conditions to make sure you can fish safely."

A comprehensive brochure is available for fishers wanting more details about the West Coast Zone abalone season. The Recreational Fishing Guide Abalone 2010/11 is available online at www.fish.wa.gov.au or from Department of Fisheries offices and information outlets.